Geo-Located and Content-to-Comment Synchronized User Circles

ABSTRACT

Devices, systems and processes for providing geo-located and content-to-comment synchronized user circles are described. For at least one embodiment, a system for facilitating a geo-location based user circle may include a hub configured to facilitate a sharing of comments between a first user and a second user via a user circle. The first user and the second user may be selected for participation in the user circle based upon a circleID associated each of a first user device and a second user device. A first user device, communicatively coupled to the hub, may be configured to facilitate a capture of the comments provided by the first user. A second user device, communicatively coupled to the hub, may be configured to facilitate a presentation of the comments to the second user. And, a second device geoID may be used to indicate a location of the second user device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and is a Divisional application ofU.S. Utility application Ser. No. 16/706,764, filed on Dec. 8, 2019, andalso claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.62/880,580, filed on Jul. 30, 2019, both applications being filed in thename of inventors Ramgopal Madduluri and Maxim Litinov (who also goes byMaksym Litvinov) and entitled “Devices, Systems and Processes forProviding Geo-Located and Content-to-Comment Synchronized User Circles.”The entire contents of both of the above identified applications areincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technology described herein generally relates to devices, systemsand processes for providing virtual environments in which a group of twoor more persons may engage with each other regarding audio-visual andother content. The technology described herein also relates to devices,systems and processes for providing virtual environments for engagementregarding audio-visual and other content by two or more personsorganized into geo-located groups. The technology described herein alsorelates to devices, systems and processes for providing virtualenvironments for engagement regarding audio-visual and other content bytwo or more persons, where presentation of the content may betime-delayed with respect to one or more of such persons.

BACKGROUND

Today, users may commonly receive video content (such as televisionprograms and streaming video programs), audio programs (such aspodcasts), and the like. Such content, regardless of form, is referredto herein as a “program.” User often are not able to interact in a groupof two or more persons with regard to such a program. For example, agroup of users watching a program on a given cable channel are not,today, capable of interacting with each other regarding the content ofsuch program using a single interface or system. Such content isreferred to herein, interchangeably, as “program content” and “content”.Whether such interaction is desired in an audible, textual, visual orother format, devices, systems and processes are not available todaywhich facilitate user-to-user engagement with regard to such programcontent and with regard to each other using a single interface orsystem. While some technologies available today facilitate the providingof text messages, or the like, to a broadcaster or other users during apresentation of a given program, such as a football game, suchtechnologies do not support the providing of user comments to a userselectable group of second users. Further, such systems often requirethe use of multiple communications systems, such as a program providingsystem and a chat, messaging or similar system. Further, when providedto a broadcaster or programming provider, user comments are commonlypresented, if at all, to all user receiving a given program transportstream. Accordingly, private communications, regarding given programcontent, amongst a user selectable group of second users is often notpossible without requiring the use of separate devices, and separatecommunications channels, such as may occur by use of text messaging andother application programs on smartphones and similar devices.

Further, devices, systems and processes available today commonly do notfacilitate the sharing of a user's comments with a geo-based grouping ofusers. Further, approaches today commonly do not provide for asynchronization of content and comments. Instead, comments often flowindependent of a progression, or stoppage or interruption thereof, of acontent stream. Accordingly, a user that has paused a content stream maybe unwittingly notified of a progression of such content before havingthe opportunity to receive such content as it progresses, albeit on atime-delayed or other basis.

The various embodiments of the present disclosure address these andother non-trivial technical hurdles to provide devices, systems andprocesses for enabling a user to engage with one or more second users ina secure and private, as desired, virtual environment regarding a givenprogram and the program content thereof. The various embodiments alsofacilitate the geo-grouping of users, such that content and comments maybe directed to users based on one or more geographic location indicator.The various embodiments also facilitate the synchronization of contentwith comments, and visa-versa. Such embodiments facilitate userengagement with both a program and program content, as well as aprovider of such program, by facilitating user to user engagement witheach other regarding such program content.

SUMMARY

The various embodiments of the present disclosure relate in general todevices, systems and processes for providing engaging contentenvironments. In accordance with at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure, a system for facilitating a geo-location based user circlemay include a hub configured to facilitate a sharing of comments betweena first user and a second user via a user circle. For at least oneembodiment, the first user and the second user may be selected forparticipation in the user circle based upon a circleID associated eachof a first user device and a second user device. For at least oneembodiment, a first user device, communicatively coupled to the hub, maybe configured to facilitate a capture of the comments provided by thefirst user and a second user device, communicatively coupled to the hub,may be configured to facilitate a presentation of the comments to thesecond user. For at least one embodiment, a second device geoIDindicates a location of the second user device.

For at least one embodiment, a system for facilitating a geo-locationbased user circle may include use of a second device geoID thatindicates a location of the second user device is at least one of acurrent location, a past location, and a preferred.

For at least one embodiment, a system for facilitating a geo-locationbased user circle may include use of a hub configured to communicate, toa second user device, a programID identifying content associated withone or more comments. For at least one embodiment, the hub may beconfigured to modify the comments based on the second device geoID.

For at least one embodiment, a system for facilitating a geo-locationbased user circle may include use of a hub configured to modify aprogramID based on a second device geoID.

For at least one embodiment, a system for facilitating geo-locationbased providing of comments by a first user with a second user mayinclude a first networked component, communicatively coupled to a firstuser device and a hub. For at least one embodiment, the first networkedcomponent may be configured to perform computer instructions forconverting a first voice sample into a first transcribed text. For atleast one embodiment, the computer instructions may include providingthe first transcribed text to the first user device. For at least oneembodiment, the first user device may include a first device audioinput/output module configured to capture first user comments. The firstuser device may include a first hardware-software processing moduleconfigured to perform computer instructions for converting the firstuser comments into the first voice sample. The first user device mayinclude a first device communications module configured to communicatethe first voice sample to the first networked component. The firstdevice communications module may be configured to receive the firsttranscribed text from the first networked component and communicate thefirst transcribed text in a first data packet to the hub.

For at least one embodiment, the hub may include a hardware-softwareprocessor module configured to perform computer instructions forassociating a second user device with a second device geoID. The hub mayinclude a hub interface module configured to communicate a second datapacket to the second user device. The second data packet may includeinformation for facilitating the presentation of the comments to thesecond user based on the second device geoID.

For at least one embodiment, the second user device may include a seconddevice communications module configured to receive the second datapacket and a second device text input/output module configured topresent the first user comments, to the second user, in view of thesecond device geoID.

For at least one embodiment, a system for facilitating geo-locationbased providing of comments by a first user with a second user mayinclude use of a first data packet that includes first transcribed text,a circleID and a programID. For at least one embodiment, the circleIDmay be associated with and identify a user circle that includes each ofa first user device and a second user device. For at least oneembodiment, the first user device and the second user device may each beconfigured for participation in the user circle.

For at least one embodiment, a system for facilitating geo-locationbased providing of comments by a first user with a second user mayinclude a hub configured to perform computer instructions foridentifying, based on a circleID, a second user device as a participantin a user circle. The computer instruction may include determining asecond device geoID, determining whether a first transcribed text isacceptable based on the second device geoID, when acceptable, generatinga second data packet that includes the first transcribed text and thesecond device geoID, and communicating the second data packet to thesecond user device.

For at least one embodiment, a system for facilitating geo-locationbased providing of comments by a first user with a second user mayinclude a hub configured to determine whether a programID corresponds toa second device geoID and, when corresponding, communicate a programIDin a second data packet to a second user device.

For at least one embodiment, a system for facilitating geo-locationbased providing of comments by a first user with a second user mayinclude, when a first transcribed text is not acceptable as based on asecond device geoID, a hub configured to obtain and communicate in asecond data packet an alternative transcribed text. The alternativetranscribed text may be based on the first transcribed text and modifiedin view of the second device geoID.

For at least one embodiment, a system for facilitating geo-locationbased providing of comments by a first user with a second user mayinclude communicating alternative transcribed text that is modified tonot include adult content.

For at least one embodiment, a system, for use in synchronizing programcontent with comments provided in a user circle may include a hubconfigured to perform computer instructions for establishing a usercircle having members including a first user and a second user. For atleast one embodiment, the computer instructions may further includeassociating a programming content with the user circle and facilitatingsynchronized exchanges of comments with the programming content betweenthe members of the user circle. For at least one embodiment, the systemmay include a first user device, associated with the first user andcommunicatively coupled to the hub, configured to present a firstsynchronization of comments and the programming content to the firstuser. For at least one embodiment, the system may include a second userdevice, associated with the second user and communicatively coupled tothe hub, configured to present a second synchronization of the commentsand the programming content to the second user.

For at least one embodiment, a system, for use in synchronizing programcontent with comments provided in a user circle may include performing afirst synchronization and a second synchronization which occursubstantially contemporaneously. For at least one embodiment, the firstsynchronization and the second synchronization may occurnon-contemporaneously.

For at least one embodiment, a system, for use in synchronizing programcontent with comments provided in a user circle may include performingcomputer instructions for a first synchronization that further includescomputer instructions for a first synch action which, when executed,results in a pause the comments while the programming content is paused.For at least one embodiment, the computer instructions for the firstsynch action may be executed by the first user device. For at least oneembodiment, the first synchronization include executing computerinstructions for a second synch action which, when executed, result in apause of the programming content while the comments are paused. For atleast one embodiment, computer instructions for the second synch actionmay be executed by the first user device upon receipt of a pause contentcommand from the user. For at least one embodiment, upon the executionof the computer instructions for the second synch action by the firstuser device, the second user device may be configured to substantiallysimultaneously execute computer instructions for the second synch actionsuch that presentation of comments and content on each of the first userdevice and the second user device occur substantially contemporaneously.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features, aspects, advantages, functions, modules, and components ofthe devices, systems and processes provided by the various embodimentsof the present disclosure are further disclosed herein regarding atleast one of the following descriptions and accompanying drawingfigures. In the appended figures, similar components or elements of thesame type may have the same reference number and may include anadditional alphabetic designator, such as 108 a-108 n, and the like,wherein the alphabetic designator indicates that the components bearingthe same reference number, e.g., 108, share common properties and/orcharacteristics. Further, various views of a component may bedistinguished by a first reference label followed by a dash and a secondreference label, wherein the second reference label is used for purposesof this description to designate a view of the component. When only thefirst reference label is used in the specification, the description isapplicable to any of the similar components and/or views having the samefirst reference number irrespective of any additional alphabeticdesignators or second reference labels, if any.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system configured inaccordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure tofacilitate the providing of engaging content environments.

FIG. 2 is a schematic flow chart of a process for using a user circle toprovide comments in accordance with at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The various embodiments described herein are directed to devices,systems and processes for providing an engaging program environments. Asdescribed herein, the various embodiments of the present disclosure aredirected to providing user selectable engaging program environments byfacilitating the communication of user comments regarding programcontent by and between one or more users being presented with suchcontent. For at least one embodiment, such engaging content environmentsmay be secure environments.

As shown in FIG. 1, for at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure, a system 100 for providing an engaging content environmentmay include a hub 102, two or more user devices 118, and one or morenetworked components 130.

Hub

Processor Module: The hub 102 may include one or more hub processormodules 104 configured to provide computer implemented software andhardware engines including, at least, a user circle engine 106, atargeting engine 108, and a security engine 109. Other computerimplemented engines may be provided for other embodiments. For at leastone embodiment, the hub 102 is configured to provide a common, virtualmeeting area at which two or more users may engage with each otherregarding a given content to which the users have access on athen-arising or later-arising basis.

The hub processor module 104 may be configured to provide any desireddata and/or signal processing capabilities. For at least one embodiment,the hub processor module 104 may have access to one or morenon-transitory processor readable instructions, including instructionsfor executing one or more applications, engines, and/or processesconfigured to instruct the processor to perform computer executableoperations (hereafter, “computer instructions”). The hub processormodule 104 may use any known or later arising processor capable ofproviding and/or supporting the features and functions of the hub 102 asneeded for any given intended use thereof and in accordance with one ormore of the various embodiments of the present disclosure.

For at least one non-limiting embodiment, the hub processor module 104may be configured as and/or has the capabilities of a 32-bit or 64-bit,multi-core ARM based processor. For at least one embodiment, the hubprocessor module 104 may arise on one or more backend systems, such asserver systems or otherwise. Computer instructions may include firmwareand software instructions, and associated data for use in operating thehub 102, as executed by the hub processor module 104. Such computerinstructions provide computer executable operations that facilitate oneor more features or functions of a hub 102 in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present disclosure.

For at least one embodiment, the hub processor module 104 may beconfigured to implement computer instructions for forming, managing, andfacilitating use of one or more user circles. For at least oneembodiment, a user circle engine 106 may be executed by the hubprocessor module 104. Such user circle engine 106 is a combination ofhardware and computer instructions. In other embodiments, the usercircle engine 106 may be implemented by a dedicated or separateprocessing component. The user circle engine 106 may be configured toprovide the hub 104 with capabilities of designating, defining,generating, managing, manipulating and/or providing one or more usercircles. As used herein a user circle is defined to be a virtualgrouping of two or more users, as established at a given point of time,via which one or more of such users may share comments with each otherregarding a program being presented, program content in such program, orotherwise. A user circle may arise with respect to a given content, asfurther discussed below, or may arise generically and without relationto any given program or program content. A user circle may occurprivately, wherein participation in the user circle is limited to aselected group of users. A user circle may occur publicly, whereinparticipation in the user circle is unlimited and any person havingaccess to such user circle may join in. A user circle may occur at anydesired level of openness ranging from private to public. A user circlemay also occur with respect to any desired scope, type or interest inunderlying programs and/or program content. That is, a user circle maybe limited, and comments relating thereto being so limited, to a selecttopic such as a sporting event, while comments on other topics, such aspolitics, being forbidden. Likewise, a user circle may be designated fornon-commentary uses, such as in support of support desk functions,on-line merchandising, on-line bidding/gambling, or otherwise.

For at least one embodiment, a user circle seeks to provide, in avirtual environment, a counterpart to an actual meeting of two or morepersons. In such a virtual environment, persons (i.e., “users” of a usercircle) can meet and exchange thoughts and ideas (i.e., “comments”)regarding a topic of the user circle using one or more humanlyperceptible signals, such as audible signals, (e.g., by speaking),visible signals (e.g., by showing, creating or presenting one or morevisual images), by textual signals (e.g., by use of keyboards orotherwise), by motion or gestures (e.g., as may occur by pantomime,sign-language, gestures on touchpad surfaces), or otherwise.Accordingly, for at least one embodiment, a user circle engine 106 maybe configured to facilitate capture and communication of one or moreuser comments in a virtual environment.

For at least one embodiment, the hub processor module 104 may beconfigured to implement computer instructions for a targeting engine108. In other embodiments, the targeting engine 108 may be implementedby a dedicated or separate processing component. The targeting engine108 may be configured to provide the hub 104 with capabilities oftargeting one or more users for participation in one or more usercircles. The targeting engine 108, working in conjunction with and/orbased on data provide by one or more databases provided by a hub storagemodule 112, such as a user preferences database 114-1, a historydatabase 114-2, a circles database 114-3, and/or other databases, may beconfigured to identify existing or to be formed circles in which one ormore given users may desire to participate. As used herein,participation in a user circle may occur actively (e.g., by a userproviding comments), semi-actively (e.g., by such user providingemoticons or the like in response to other's comments), or passively(e.g., by such a user receiving but not providing reactions to orthereon comments). A user's participation in a user circle, over time,may range from any of active to semi-active to passive, as desired bythat given user.

Based upon an identification of user circles (existing, past and/orthose to be formed), the targeting engine 108 may be configured toinvite, entice, encourage, notify, inform, or otherwise bring to theattention of a given user one or more of such user circles. For example,based on a user preference for Kansas State University (“KSU”) football,a user may be targeted, by the targeting engine 108, to join a usercircle directed to KSU football—herein a “KSU user circle.” As discussedlater, such a KSU user circle may be available when content is availableabout KSU Football—such content being provided by a television channel,a cable channel, on-line video stream, and/or otherwise. Such contentmay be provided and/or available to a user using any technology (suchas, linear television, streaming video, online content), and in any form(such as, audible, visual, and/or otherwise). Monetization of thetargeting may occur by use, for example, of advertising revenue schemes,participation redemption factors, or otherwise.

For at least one embodiment, the hub processor module 104 may beconfigured to implement computer instructions for a security engine 108,such instructions may also and/or alternatively be implemented by adedicated or separate processing component. The security engine 108provides the hub 102 with capabilities of securing user participation inone or more user circles. The security engine 108 may be configured toaddress security needs, including but not limited to, securing theidentify of users, securing content communicated in a user circle,securing access to the system, and other security needs. The securityengine 108 may operate separately and/or in conjunction with securitycomponents provided by other components of the system 100 includingthose provided by user devices 118 and network components 130. Anydesired know or later arising security technologies, protocols,approaches, schemes, or otherwise may be used in one or more embodimentsof the present disclosure.

For at least one embodiment, the hub processor module 104 may beconfigured to implement computer instructions for a geo-grouping engine105, such instruction may also and/or alternatively be implemented by adedicated or separate processing component. For at least one embodiment,the geo-grouping engine 105 provides the hub 102 with capabilities ofgrouping two or more users into a user circles based upon geo-locationinformation. The geo-grouping engine 105 may utilize geo-locationinformation provided by any source or otherwise determinable by the hub102. Such geo-location information may indicate a current location of auser, which may be determined, for example, based on an indicationthereof by a user or based on other geo-location information provided bya user device 118 associated with a given user and/or determined usinglocation detection technologies provided by networked components 130,such as cellular and wireless signal positioning techniques, orotherwise obtained. Such geo-location information may include anindication of a past location of a user, such as a user's priorresidence, a prior city or location visited while traveling, orotherwise. Such geo-location information may include an indication of auser's preferred location(s), for example an indication of one or morefavorite cities, states, restaurants, business establishments, or otherlocations. Such geo-location favorites information may be obtained fromany source, including but not limited to, a user preferences database114-1, a history database 114-2, each described in greater below, and/orotherwise. Other forms of geo-location information may be used, asdesired for any given implementation of an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Interface Modules As further shown in FIG. 1 and for at least oneembodiment of the present disclosure, a hub 102 may include a hubinterface module 110. The hub interface module 110 may include one ormore hub-to-device interface modules 110(A) and/or hub-to-networkinterface modules 110(B). The hub interface module 110 may use any knownor later arising technologies for communicatively coupling the hub 102with one or more user devices 118 and one or more networked providers130. Non-limiting examples of such interface modules include hardwareand software configured for use with one or more of the BLUETOOTH™,ZIGBEE™, Near Field Communications, Narrowband IOT, WIFI™, 3G, 4G, 5G,cellular, and other currently arising and/or future arisingcommunications technologies. Communication links between a hub 102 and auser device 118 and/or a networked component 130 may arise directly, asillustratively shown by network connections 132-1 and 132-2, orindirectly as shown by a combination of network connections 132-2 and132-3, wherein communications between a user device 118 and a hub 102occur via one or more networked components 130, such as an Internetserver. Any known or later arising networking and/or othercommunications technologies may be used to facilitate direct and/orindirect communications between hubs, user devices and networkedcomponents.

For at least one embodiment, the hub interface module 110 may beconfigured to include one or more data ports for establishingconnections between a hub 102 and a user device 118, such as a laptopcomputer, a smartphone, a satellite or cable set top box (an “STB”) orother device. Such data ports may support any known or later arisingtechnologies, such as USB 2.0™, USB 3.0™, ETHERNET™, FIREWIRE™, HDMI™,wireless technologies, and others. The hub interface module 110 may beconfigured to support the transfer of data formatted using any desiredprotocol and at any desired data rates/speeds. The hub interface module110 may be connected to one or more antennas (not shown) to facilitatewireless data transfers. Such antenna may support short-rangetechnologies, such as 802.11a/c/g/n and others, and/or long-rangetechnologies, such as 4G, 5G, and others. The hub interface module 110may be configured to communicate signals using terrestrial systems,space-based systems, and combinations thereof. For example, a hub 102may be configured to receive global positioning (“GPS”) signals from asatellite directly, by use of a user device 118, or otherwise.

Storage Module(s) For at least one embodiment, the hub 102 may includeone or more hub storage module(s) 112. Computer instructions, data setsand/or other information (collectively herein, “stored data”) may bestored by such hub storage module(s) 112 and used by the processor 104and/or other system hardware and/or software components to provide oneor more features and/or capabilities of the various embodiments of thepresent disclosure. For example, the hub processor module 104 may beconfigured to execute, use, implement, modify or otherwise process suchstored data. It is to be appreciated that the hub storage module(s) 112(each module and/or sub-division thereof a “storage component”) may beconfigured using any known or later arising data storage technologies.In at least one embodiment, hub storage module(s) 112 may be configuredusing flash memory technologies, micro-SD card technology, as asolid-state drive, as a hard drive, as an array of storage devices, orotherwise. Hub storage module(s) 112 may be configured to have anydesired data storage size, read/write speed, redundancy, or otherwise. Ahub storage module 112 may be configured to provide temporary/transientand/or permanent/non-transient storage of stored data, as the case maybe. Stored data may be encrypted prior to and/or at the time of storage,with decryption of such stored data occurring, as needed, for use byprocessing module, or otherwise.

Hub storage module(s) 112 may include one or more hub databases 114providing information, instructions and/or data for using infacilitating user circles and the use thereof. For at least oneembodiment, such hub databases 114 may include a user preferencesdatabase 114-1, a history database 114-2, a circles database 114-3, anda support database 114-4. Other databases may be provided for otherembodiments.

User Preference Database For at least one embodiment, informationpertaining to a user and/or a population of users (where a population ofusers is two or more users) may be provided by a user preferencedatabase 114-1. The storage modules 112 may be configured to collect andprovide data relating to one more user's preferences. The userpreferences may include any information that may be and/or is useful insupporting one or more user circles. Non-limiting examples of suchpreferences may include demographic, psychographic, geographic, or othertypes of information pertaining to a user. The breadth and scope of suchtypes of information, and the degree of specificity and/or anonymityand/or generality associated therewith, is not limited and may vary asdesired with the providing, use, or otherwise of one or more usercircles. Any source of information may be used in populating the user'spreferences database 114-1. One non-limiting example of such as sourcemay be a user. For example, a user's specified interest in KSU Footballmay be stored in the user preferences database as a college preferenceindicator and as a KSU indicator. Likewise, an indicator of a likedprofessional football team for a user, may include a designation of the49ers™ or any other team. Similarly, a user's preference for particulartypes of foods, goods, locations, other program content, or otherwise,may be included in the stored data for a user's preference database.Such preference information may be populated based on user behavior,user input or otherwise. Accordingly, the various embodiments of thepresent disclosure are not intended to be limited to any given set orcollection, or source thereof, of user preferences information, unlessotherwise so expressly recited.

History Database For at least one embodiment, information pertaining toa history of user circles may be provided by a history database 114-2.The storage modules 112 may be configured to collect and provide datarelating to the use, construction of and deconstruction, as appropriate,of user circles. Such data may be useful in facilitating the creationand/or use of future user circles, generating opportunities to monetizethe promotion and/or advertising of content in conjunction with and/orin support or response to the use of user circles, and otherwise. Thehistory database 114-2, for at least one embodiment, may includeinformation obtained from a user preferences 114-1 database, where suchinformation provides information about the users participating in one ormore user circles at a desired level of anonymity. For example, ahistory database may include information indicating that the Denvermetropolitan area contains a first number of KSU Football fans, whilethe San Francisco metropolitan area contains a second number of KSUFootball fans. Such information being useful for targeting marketing andother uses.

Circles Database For at least one embodiment, a circles database 114-3may be configured to collect and provide data relating to one or morepresently configured user circles. Such groupings may occurautomatically, based on user input, or otherwise. As discussed above, auser circle may be specific to a given content or otherwise. Forexample, a user circle may be formed with respect to a content genre(for example, NFL™ football games), a given subset of that genre (forexample, San Francisco 49ers™ games), a given instance of the subset(for example, a 49ers™ vs Dallas Cowboys™ game), or otherwise. For atleast one embodiment, the genre, subset and/or instances of content tobe associated with and/or associable with a user circle may be definedto any level of generalization and/or specificity by a user, a group ofusers in a given user circle, a promotor or organizer of a user circle,or otherwise. For example, a broad generalization may include anycontent while the before mentioned specified game may include a specificinstance of content. Further, it is to be appreciated that user circles,as related to content, may be generalized and/or specified (to any levelthereof or there-between) to the extent that content itself may begeneralized and/or specified. For at least one embodiment, a user circlemay be additionally, separately, and/or alternatively specific to agiven group of users, such as users A, B and C. Such grouping of usersin a given user circle may, as desired, may be specific to a givencontent or non-specific. For example, users A, B and C form a circle for49ers™ games, while users A, B and D form a circle for Denver Broncos™basketball games. User circles may be created based upon any criteria orcollection thereof, such as location, user preferences, user history,content to be presented, or otherwise. The circles database 114-3facilitates the storage of data related to circles that the user circleengine 106 may utilize to facilitate use of a user circle.

For at least one embodiment, a user circle might be formed and/orformable for all content being viewed by a given user, such as user A,with other users (such as users B or C) being invited and/or capable ofbeing invited to join in the circle with user A regarding such givencontent, while user D is not invited or allowed to participate. Forexample, and while watching an episode of Show Z, user A might desire toengage with user B regarding Show Z, but, not with user D. Accordingly,a user circle may be formed between users A and B regarding Show Z. Suchcircle may be formed automatically, such as when the latter of users Aand B begin to watch Show Z while the other is already watching Show Z,by invitation, upon user prompting, in view of each user's preferences,based on history information, or otherwise. Thus, for at least oneembodiment, user engagement with content can be facilitated by two ormore users engaging with each other in one or more user circles formedabout and/or concerning a given content. It is to be appreciated, thestorage modules 112 in conjunction with the hub processor module 104 maybe configured to collectively facilitate the creation, use, andotherwise of one or more user circles.

Support Database For at least one embodiment, a support database 114-3may be configured to collect and provide data relating to one or moreuser and/or user circle support functions. Such support may arise withrespect to a user circle, a program, program content, or otherwise. Forexample, support on the use, formation, or otherwise of a user circlemay be facilitated by a support database 114-4, that in conjunction witha support engine (not shown) facilitates the providing of support withrespect to user circles. For example, assistance with inviting a user toa user circle may be provided by using information, such as tutorials,provided by the support database 114-4. Similarly, a support circle maybe formed with respect to a program having transmission difficulties.Likewise, a support circle may be formed when content itself invokes aneed for support. For example, content regarding a traumatic event maygenerate a support circle providing users with virtual access tocounselors, ministers, or other similar providers.

Similarly, and for at least one embodiment, the support database 114-4may be configured to provide support features, such as tutorials or thelike, that provide support for non-circle related issues, such as, howto operate a given device, without regard to a program or content. Dataprovided in such a support database 114-4 may be used by a user circleengine 106 to create a dynamic, or otherwise, user circle relating tothe given device. For example, issues relating to use or troubleshootingof a given STB may be supported by formation of a user circle with agiven person and a representative of the provider of the STB. For atleast one embodiment, such representative may be an actual or a virtualassistant. Likewise, such a user circle may include other users who alsohave similar concerns with the STB and/or the issue then arising withsuch STB. The support database 114-4 may provide stored data thatfacilitates the providing of information relevant to the STB. Suchinformation, for at least one embodiment, may be presented in a form ofa tutorial, a virtual classroom, or otherwise. Accordingly, it is to beappreciated that the various embodiments of the present disclosure maybe configured to dynamically support the formation and use of one ormore user circles for any purpose, with regard to any program, content,device, topic, or otherwise, and on a static, scheduled, dynamic, orother basis and between one or more users ranging from private to fullypublic user circles.

Other Databases For at least one embodiment of the present disclosure,the storage modules 112 may include the use, on a transient ornon-transient basis, of other databases. The stored data in such otherdatabases being provided for execution and/or use, singularly orcollectively, by one or more of a processor 104, a user device 118,and/or a networked component 130. Any type of stored data and associatedcomputer instructions implemented for use of such stored data may beprovided.

User Device

As further shown in FIG. 1, the system 100 includes user devices 118. Toform a user circle, it is to be appreciated that typically two or moreuser devices 118 are to be utilized. However, it is to be appreciatedthat the retrieval and/or use of one or of the stored data, and/or thecapabilities, features and functions of the various embodiments of thepresent disclosure may involve the use of only a single user device 118.For example, a playback of a stored user circle session may occur usingonly a single user device, while the participation of the two or moreusers in such user circle involved the participation of two or more userdevices. As shown and for at least one embodiment, a user device 118includes one or more of the following components: a user interfacemodule 120, a user processor module 122, a user storage module 124, anaudio input/output module 126, a visual input/output module 127, a textinput/output module 128, and a motion input/output module 129. Othermodules (not shown) may be used, as desired for a given embodiment ofthe present disclosure. The user device 118 may be provided in anydesired form or arrangement, including but not limited to, a STB, asmartphone, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet, a virtualreality device, or other device configurable for use in facilitatinguser circles and the participation therein and/or use thereof by a givenuser.

Communications Module For at least one embodiment, a user device 118 mayinclude a communications module 120 configured to facilitatecommunications by and between a user device 118 and one or more of a hub102, a second user device, and one or more networked components 130. Thecommunications module 120 may include one or more hub interface modules(not shown) and/or network interface modules. The communications module120 may use any known or later arising communications and/orconnectivity technologies, as implemented in hardware, software andcombinations thereof. Non-limiting examples of such interface modulesinclude hardware and software configured for use with one or more of theBLUETOOTH™, ZIGBEE™, Near Field Communications, Narrowband IOT, WIFI™,3G, 4G, 5G, cellular, Ethernet, and other currently arising and/orfuture arising communications technologies.

Device Processor Module For at least one embodiment, a user device 118may include a device processor module 122. The device processor module122 may be configured as and/or have the capabilities of a 32-bit or64-bit, multi-core ARM based processor. The device processor module 122may be configured for independent use of the user device 118 and/orassisted use of the user device 118, wherein assisted use involves theoff-loading and/or shared processing of one or more computerinstructions, data sets, or other information by one or more of a hub102 and a networked component 130.

Content-Comment Sync Engine For at least one embodiment, a deviceprocessor module 122 may be configured to execute computer instructionsfor a content-comment synchronization engine (the “sync engine”) 122-1.The computer instructions for the sync engine 122-1 may also and/oralternatively be implemented by a dedicated or separate processingcomponent. For at least one embodiment, the sync engine 122-1 provides auser device 118 with the capabilities of synchronizing content withcomments associated with a given user circle. For at least anotherembodiment, the sync engine 112-1 may be executed, in whole or in part,by a hub 102, a networked component 130 and/or a combination of any, ifnot all, of one or more of a user device 118, a hub 102 and a networkedcomponent 130.

For at least one embodiment, a synchronizing of content with commentsmay occur using one or more synchronization schemes. A synchronizationscheme may be user defied, user configurable, configurable based uponuser usage history or other data, and/or otherwise manually,semi-manually and/or automatically configurable. A synchronizationscheme may be configured based upon any criteria, including but notlimited to, a user circle with which the scheme is to be associated, aprogramID, an amount of content and/or comments to be synchronized, asource or location at which the synchronization is to occur, andotherwise. Capabilities and resources associated with a givensynchronization scheme may be provided in view of numerous factorsincluding but not limited to storage (by buffer or otherwise) availableon a device 118, at a hub 102 or by a networked component 130, networkand device bandwidths, practical considerations, such as the quantity,quality or amount of comments being received relating to the content ora portion thereof, and otherwise. It is to be appreciated that thesynchronization of content and comments may occur in any desiredrelationship, at any time, and in accordance with any desiredsynchronization scheme, including schemes provided extemporaneously.

For a first synchronization scheme, a presentation of content influencesa presentation of comments. More specifically, a pausing, fastforwarding, reversing, jumping, or other action related to a programand/or its content influences actions pertaining to comments associatedwith such content. For example, when, where and how one or more commentsassociated with such program are processed, presented, stored orotherwise managed by one or more of a user device 118, a hub 102 or anetworked component 130 are influenced by, if not controlled in view of,parameters specified in association with such a first synchronizationscheme. These parameters and their influence on comment presentation andother operations may vary widely and may be in accordance with a user'sdesires, a user device's constraints, a hub's constraints, networkconstraints, or otherwise.

For example and in accordance with a first synchronization scheme, atleast one of a user device 118 and/or a hub 102 may be configured toexecute computer instructions providing that when content is paused by agiven user device (for example, in furtherance of a user's need for apersonal break, such as one arising during a commercial break in theprogram content) at least one first synch action occurs. A first synchaction may include, for example, pausing of a presentation of a commentstream while the content stream is paused on that given user's device.Another first synch action may include, for example, not pausing acomment stream, but, obscuring of one or more portions of such comments.Other first synch actions may occur and it is to be appreciated that anygiven first synchronization scheme may be configured to include anygiven first sync action(s). Likewise, it is to be appreciated that anygiven first sync action may include operations occurring on one or moreof a user device 118, a hub 102, and/or a networked component 130.

For a second synchronization scheme, at least one of a user device 118and/or a hub 102 may be configured to execute computer instructionsproviding for a sequencing of comments by a given user device resultingin at least one second synch action occurring. For example, whileinputting a comment, a user device may be configured to pause apresentation of content. Per this non-limiting example, a deviceprocessor module 122, alone and/or in conjunction with a hub 102 and/ora networked component 130, may be configured such that, for a secondsync action, a comment related activity results in a content relatedactivity. One non-limiting example of where use of a second sync actionmay be desired is when a user desires to engage in other activities thatmay not be directly related to the content, but are related to acomment, with the user desiring to pause the program while the commentrelated activities occur. For example, a user may desire to engage incomment related activities such as on-line shopping, polling, gambling,and otherwise, without missing program content. It is to be appreciatedthat any given second synchronization scheme may be configured toinclude any given second sync action(s). Likewise, it is to beappreciated that any given second sync action may include operationsoccurring on one or more of a user device 118, a hub 102, and/or anetworked component 130.

For a third synchronization scheme, a pausing of content or comments ona first user device may result in one or more third synch actionsoccurring on one or more other user devices associated with a given usercircle. For example, a third sync action may be configured such thatwhen content is paused on a first user device (such as a host's device),presentation of content and/or comments is paused across all other userdevices within that given user circle. Similarly, a third sync actionmay be configured such that only comment entry is paused within a givenuser circle while content presentation is paused on one or more userdevices associated with that given user circle. Other third sync actionsmay be used and configured, as desired for any implementation of anembodiment of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is to beappreciated that any given synchronization scheme may be configured toinclude any given first, second and/or third sync action(s). Likewise,it is to be appreciated that any given sync action may includeoperations occurring on one or more user devices 118, hubs 102, and/ornetworked components 130.

Device Storage Module For at least one embodiment, a user device 118 mayinclude a device storage module 124. The device storage module 124 is astorage component and may be configured using any known or later arisingdata storage technologies. In at least one embodiment, the devicestorage module 124 may be configured using flash memory technologies,micro-SD card technology, as a solid-state drive, as a hard drive, as anarray of storage devices, or otherwise. The device storage module 124may be configured to have any desired data storage size, read/writespeed, redundancy, or otherwise. The device storage module 124 may beconfigured to provide temporary/transient and/or permanent/non-transientstorage of stored data, as the case may be. Stored data may be encryptedprior to and/or at the time of storage, with decryption of such storeddata occurring, as needed, for use by processing module, or otherwise.The device storage module 124 may include one or more collections ofdata provided by the user preferences database 114-1, the historydatabase 114-2, the circles database 114-3, the support database 114-4,and other databases (not shown). For at least one embodiment, a devicestorage module 124 may be configured to store data sets relevant to agiven user of a given user device, such data sets being generatedlocally on the user device and/or obtainable from one or more of thebefore mentioned databases provided by a hub 102. Further, it is to beappreciated that the device storage module 124 may also be configured toprovide computer instructions and/or data sets which facilitate use of auser device 118 for a user circle.

Device Position Module For at least one embodiment, a user device 118may include a device position module 125 configured to identify aposition of a given user device 118. For embodiments wherein a givenuser device is generally non-mobile, such as in the case of the use of aSTB in a home or office environment, the device position module 125 maynot be utilized, with the location information being already known to ahub 102 or other networked component 130 based upon subscriptioninformation, IP address information or other fixed, non-varyingindicators of a position of that given user device 118. Contrarily,where a user device 118 is mobile, such as may arise in the use of asmartphone, laptop computer, notebook computer, tablet or other mobiledevice, an active device position module 125 may be utilized. Suchdevice position module 125 may be configured to use any device positiondetermining technology, including but not limited to, global positioningtechnologies, IP addressing, user input (e.g., a user inputs theirlocation by use of any user compatible input format), or otherwise.Position information generated and/or captured by a device positionmodule 125 may be utilized by device processor module 122 and, whencommunicated to, one or more of a hub 102 and a networked component 130to facilitate use of user circles.

Audio Input/output Module For at least one embodiment, a user device 118may include an audio input/output module 126 configured to support theproviding of audible signals between a user and a user device 118. Suchaudio signals may include spoken text, sounds, or any other audibleinformation. Such audible information may include one or more of humanlyperceptible audio signals, where humanly perceptible audio signalstypically arise between 20 Hz and 20 KHz. For at least one embodiment,the range of humanly perceptible audio signals may be configurable tosupport an audible range of a given individual user.

An audio input/output module 126 generally includes hardware andsoftware (herein, “audio technologies”) which supports the input and (asdesired) output of audible signals to a user. Such audio technologiesmay include technologies for converting human speech to text, text tospeech, translation from a first language to one or more secondlanguages, playback rate adjustment, playback frequency adjustment,volume adjustments and otherwise. Non-limiting examples of audiotechnologies that may be utilized in an audio input/output module 126include Google Voice, SFTranscription, Brightscript, Google Assistant,and others. In at least one embodiment, an audio input/output module 126may be configured to use one or more microphones and speakers to captureand present audible information to user. Such one or more microphonesand speakers may be provided by a given user device itself or by adevice communicatively couple additional audible device component, forexample, by earbuds may be communicatively coupled to a smartphone, withthe earbuds functioning as an audio input/output module 126 andcapturing and presenting audio sounds to and from a user, while thesmartphone functions as a user device 118. Accordingly, it is to beappreciated that any existing or future arising audio input/outputdevices, systems and/or components may be utilized by and/or inconjunction with a user device 118 to facilitate the use of usercircles. In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, usersprovide their comments audibly for presentation to other users in a usercircle and receive representations of other user's comments alsoaudibly.

For at least one embodiment, an audio input/output module 126 may beconfigured to automatically recognize and capture comments spoken by auser and intended for sharing in a user circle. Such identification mayoccur as a default setting of the audio input/output module 126 into a“capture” mode, based upon analysis and recognition of spoken commentsas being intended for one or more second users in a user circle, orotherwise. For example, a comment such as, “Bill, that is just wrong,”where “Bill” is the name of a second user in a user circle, may beautomatically captured and shared by an audio input/output module 126.The analysis and determination of which captured sounds to share with auser circle may be accomplished by a user device 118 itself, by a hub102, by a networked component 130, and/or by a combination of any of theforegoing. For at least one embodiment, a priming key word, such as “HeyPiazza” may also and/or alternatively be used to designate which audiocomments, by a first user, are to be shared with one more second usersin a user circle. While the use of priming key words are supported, forat least one embodiment, the system 100 is configured to automaticallyrecognize and share users' comments throughout a user circle as if anactual, physically present meeting of the users was occurring versus thevirtual meeting of such users provided by the use of user circles andembodiments of the present disclosure.

Visual Input/output Module For at least one embodiment, a user device118 may include a visual input/output module 127 configured to supportthe providing of visible signals between a user and a user device 118.Such visible signals may be in any desired form, such as still images,motion images, augmented reality images, virtual reality images andotherwise. Such visible information may include one or more of humanlyperceptible visible signals. For at least one embodiment, a visualinput/output module 127 may also be configured to capture non-humanlyvisible images, such as those arising in the X-ray, ultra-violet,infra-red or other spectrum ranges. Such non-humanly visible images maybe converted, as desired, into humanly visibly perceptible images by oneor more of a user device 118, a hub 102 and/or a networked component130. A visual input/output module 127 generally includes hardware andsoftware (herein, “visible technologies”) which supports the input byand (as desired) output of visible signals to a user. Such visibletechnologies may include technologies for converting images (in anyspectrum range) into humanly perceptible images, converting content ofvisible images into a given user's perceptible content, such as bycharacter recognition, translation, playback rate adjustment, playbackfrequency adjustment, and otherwise. A visual input/output module 127may be configured to use one or more display devices configured topresent visible information to user. A visual input/output module 127may be configured to use one or more image capture devices, such asthose provided by lenses, digital image capture and processing softwareand the like which may be provided by a given user device itself or by acommunicatively coupled additional image capture device component, forexample, a remote camera in a vehicle or otherwise. Accordingly, it isto be appreciated that any existing or future arising visualinput/output devices, systems and/or components may be utilized byand/or in conjunction with a user device 118 to facilitate the capture,communication and/or presentation of visual information in conjunctionwith one or more user circles. In at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure, users provide their comments visibly for presentation toother users in a user circle and receive representations of other user'scomments visibly. As discussed above with regard to audible comments,such visible comments may be captured automatically, upon use of one ormore priming key images, or otherwise.

Text Input/output Module For at least one embodiment, a user device 118may include a text input/output module 128 configured to support theproviding of textual information by a user using a user device 118. Suchtextual information signals may be in any desired language, format,character set, or otherwise. Such textual information may include one ormore of humanly perceptible characters, such as letters of the alphabetor otherwise. For at least one embodiment, a text input/output module128 may also be configured to capture textual information in first form,such as a first language, and convert such textual information into asecond form, such as a second language. A text input/output module 128generally includes hardware and software (herein, “textualtechnologies”) which supports the input by and (as desired) output oftextual information signals to a user. Such textual technologies mayinclude technologies for inputting, outputting, and converting textualcontent into a given user's perceptible content, such as by characterrecognition, translation, size/font adjustment, and otherwise. In atleast one embodiment, a text input/output module 128 may be configuredto use an input device, such as a keyboard, touch pad, mouse, or otherdevice to capture textual information. It is to be appreciated that anyexisting or future arising text input/output devices, systems and/orcomponents may be utilized by and/or in conjunction with a user device118 to facilitate the use of textual information in one or more usercircles. In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, usersprovide their comments textually for presentation to other users in auser circle and receive representations of other user's commentstextually. As discussed above with regard to audible comments, suchtextual comments may be captured automatically, upon use of one or morepriming key words or textual characters or strings thereof (e.g., thedepressing of a “comment” button being indicative that a followingstring of characters are intended as comments for the user circle), orotherwise.

Gesture Input/output Module For at least one embodiment, a user device118 may include a gesture input/output module 129 configured to supportthe providing of gesture information, such as sign language, by a userusing a user device 118. Such gesture information signals may be in anydesired form or format. Such gesture information may include one or moreof humanly perceptible characters, such as those provided by signlanguage. For at least one embodiment, a gesture input/output module 129may also be configured to capture a user's motions to control one ormore aspects of a user device, examples of such motions including thosecommonly used on smartphone touch interfaces. A gesture input/outputmodule 129 generally includes hardware and software (herein, “gesturetechnologies”) which supports the input by and (as desired) output ofgesture information signals to a user. Such gesture technologies mayinclude technologies for inputting, outputting, and converting gesturecontent into any given form, such as into textual information, audibleinformation, visual information, device instructions or otherwise. In atleast one embodiment, a gesture input/output module 129 may beconfigured to use an input device, such as a motion detecting camera,touch pad, mouse, motion sensors, or other devices configured to capturemotion information. It is to be appreciated that any existing or futurearising gesture input/output devices, systems and/or components may beutilized by and/or in conjunction with a user device 118 to facilitatethe use of gesture information in one or more user circles. In at leastone embodiment of the present disclosure, users provide one or more oftheir comments via gestures for presentation to other users in a usercircle and receive representations of other user's comments in a seconddesired format, such as audibly, visually, via characters, or otherwise.Thus, it is to be appreciated that the various embodiments of thepresent disclosure may be configured to use one or more of the describedabove and/or other input/output devices to facilitate user participationin a user circle. Such input/output devices may be used individually orin any desired combination thereof. As discussed above with regard toaudible comments, such gesture comments may be captured automatically,upon use of one or more priming key gestures (e.g., the waving of one'shand in a certain manner, or nodding or shaking one's head), orotherwise.

Networked Components

As shown in FIG. 1, the system 100 may also include one or morenetworked components 130. Non-limiting examples of such networkedcomponents include network storage modules 134, network processormodules 136, and network support modules 138.

Network Storage Modules For at least one embodiment, networked storagemodules 134 may be communicatively coupled to the hub 102 and/or one ormore user devices 118, by one or more direct or indirect connection(s)132, or combinations thereof. The networked storage modules 134 may beprovided via any networked devices and/or systems, such as thosecommunicatively accessible via the Internet, or other networkingtechnologies including but not limited to local, regional, private,public or other networking technologies. It is to be appreciated thatthe networked storage modules 134 are also referred to herein as astorage component and, like hub storage modules 112 and device storagemodules 124, may be configured using any known or later arising datastorage technologies. In at least one embodiment, a network storagemodule 134 may be configured using flash memory technologies, micro-SDcard technology, as a solid-state drive, as a hard drive, as an array ofstorage devices, or otherwise. A network storage module 134 may beconfigured to have any desired data storage size, read/write speed,redundancy, or otherwise. A network storage module 134 may be configuredto provide temporary/transient and/or permanent/non-transient storage ofone or more data sets, computer instructions, and/or other information.

Network Processor Module For at least one embodiment, one or morenetwork processor modules 136 may be configured to execute computerinstructions which facilitate in whole, or in part, the use of usercircles. Network processor modules 136 may use any known or laterarising network and/or server based technologies. Such network processormodules 136 may be configured to support and/or perform, separatelyand/or in conjunction with one or more of a hub 102 and a user device118, one or more computer instructions utilized in providing usercircles. Non-limiting examples of computer instructions performed by anetwork processor module 136 to facilitate use of user circles includeconversion of speech to text and translation of text from a firstlanguage to a second language.

Network Support Module For at least one embodiment, one or more networksupport modules 138 may be configured to execute computer instructionswhich facilitate in whole, or in part, the use of user circles. Networksupport modules 138 may use any known or later arising network and/orserver based technologies that facilitate support of a user with respectto a user circle or other technology issue. Support functions supportedmay include, but are not limited to, the before mentioned tutorials,virtual classrooms, helpdesk functions, and otherwise.

In FIG. 2 and for at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, aprocess for using a user circle is shown. As shown, the system 200 maybe configured to include a hub 102, a first user device 118-1 coupled toan audio input device 126-1 and first visual output device 127-1, atleast one second user device 118-2 coupled to a second visual outputdevice 127-2, a first networked component 130-1, a second networkedcomponent 130-2 and a third networked component 130-3. It is to beappreciated, however, that while shown as three separate networkedcomponents, such components may be combined as desired.

Per Operation 200 and using, for example, the audio input device 126-1,a user may input a comment regarding a program, such as a televisionprogram being presented via the first user device 118-1. The usercomment may be captured and processed by the audio input device 126-1into a voice sample. The voice sample may be in a digital form, may becompressed and/or otherwise processed using known audio input processingtechnologies.

Per Operation 202, the voice sample is communicated to the first userdevice 118-1, which for this illustrative embodiment only, is assumed tolack the capability to transcribe the voice sample.

Per Operation 204, the first user device 118-1 communicates the voicesample to a first networked component 130-1.

Per Operation 206, the first networked component 130-1 transcribes thevoice sample into transcribed text and communicates the transcribed textback to the first user device 118-1.

Per Operation 207, the first user device 118-1, upon receiving thetranscribed text may output the transcribed text for presentation viathe first visual output device 127-1.

Per Operation 208, the first user device 118-1 communicates to the hub102 the received transcribed text in a first data packet including atleast one of a circle identifier (a “circleID”) and a program identifier(a “programID”). The circle identifier indicates the user circle(s)(there may be one) to which the user's comment is intended to bedistributed. As discussed above, a circle may be limited to designatedusers, private, public or otherwise. The circleID facilitates theproviding of the comment to those users which the first user desires toreceive such comment. The programID identifies an underlying program,e.g., a television show, a radio show, other content, with respect towhich the first user is presently being presented and with respect towhich the first user is providing the commentary.

Per Operation 210, upon receiving the first data packet, the hub 102determines which user(s) (there may be one) to whom the first user'scommentary is to be provided. The hub 102 then generates andcommunicates a second data packet to those designated users. For atleast one embodiment, when geo-location information is not utilized, thesecond data packet may include the same circleID, programID andtranscribed text as the first data packet. For at least anotherembodiment, the second data packet may include different and/oradditional circleID, programIDs, and/or transcribed text. Such differentand/or additional circleID(s) may arise, for example, where a comment isa public comment and multiple circles are used to include multipleusers.

When geo-location information is utilized, the hub may generate a seconddata packet that includes a geographic identifier (a “geoID”)designating geo-location information associated with the second datapacket. Such geoID may be associated with additional and/or differentcircleIDs and/or programIDs. When associated with additional and/ordifferent circleIDs, a geoID may designate and/or group certain usersinto specific user circles based on geo-location information. Whenassociated with additional and/or different programIDs, a geoID may beused to identify alternative content to be provided to a user. Thealternative content may be further associated with a circleID. A needfor such alternative content, as indicated by a different circleIDand/or a different programID, may arise when a need for differentcontent arises because of location or other external factors. Forexample, the presentation of adult content in a user's current homelocation may influence use of a first programID, whereas that sameuser's then presence on an airplane may influence use of less maturecontent, as associated with a second programID. Similar concerns mayarise with respect to a circleID. That is, the underlying program may beassociated with different programIDs, providing different versions ofsuch content. Likewise, different circleIDs may be associated withdifferent comment filters. The geo-location information, as specified bya geoID, may be used to influence which of potentially two or moreprogramIDs and/or circleIDs a user device uses when present contentand/or comments to such user at a given time. Similarly, differentprogramIDs, as influenced by geoIDs, may arise due to the vagaries ofcontent distribution using, e.g., different local television feeds,different networks, and otherwise being associated with for differentlocations.

Likewise, a need for additional and/or different transcribed text mayarise based on a geoID. Such additional and/or different transcribedtext may be associated with different geoIDs and may be provided to agiven user device based on geo-location information associated with suchuser. For example, a second user may prefer to receive comments in adifferent language while traveling. Geo-location information for theuser and geoIDs provided in the second data packet may be used tofacilitate selection and presentation of such different content and/ordifferent comments. In short, the various embodiments of the presentdisclosure enable users to participate in user circles that correspondto a geoID that indicates content and/or comments associated withgeo-location information.

Per Operation 212, upon receiving the second data packet, the seconduser device 118-2 outputs the transcribed text to a second visual outputdevice 127-2. In outputting the transcribed text, the second user device118-2 may be configured to automatically or when permitted tune thesecond user device 118-2 to the program content identified by theprogramID and also to present an interface providing the user circleidentified by the circleID.

Per Operation 214, the hub 102 may also be configured to communicate thetranscribed text for further analysis to a second networked component130-2 (assuming the capability thereof does not reside on the hubitself). The further analysis may include any analysis desired based onthe transcribed text. Such analysis may include, but is not limited to,sentiment analysis. Non-limiting examples of sentiment analysis includesanalysis of the transcribed text for a user sentiment regarding theunderlying comment based upon the words spoken. It is to be appreciatedthat other forms of analysis may be performed on the transcribed textand/or the voice sample itself including, but not limited to, analysisbased upon the rate of speech, the volume of speech, and otherwise.Likewise, other forms of content analysis may be performed on the voicesample and/or the transcribed text by a hub 102, a networked component130, a user device 118 and/or a combination of any of the foregoing.Non-limiting examples of such analysis include demographics analysis(e.g., are the comments indicative of a level of education),psychographic analysis (e.g., are the words spoken indicative of theuser's mental status), geographic analysis (e.g., are the words spokenindicative of a present location of the first user), and otherwise.

Per Operation 216, the second networked component 130-2 performs thedesired analysis of one or more of the transcribed text and/or the voicesample and outputs a sentiment data packet to the hub 102.

Per Operation 218, upon receiving the sentiment data packet, the hub 102generates and communicates a third data packet to a third networkedcomponent 130-3. It is to be appreciated that communication of thesecond data packet and the third data packet may occur at substantiallythe same time or at any desired time, with either data packet precedingthe other, as desired for a given embodiment. For at least oneembodiment, the third data packet may include a programID and thesentiment data provided by the second networked component 130-2 in thesentiment packet. For at least one embodiment, the sentiment data mayalso be provided in the second data packet to the second user device118-2 for processing and presentation thereof to the second user. Suchsentiments may be presented, for example, by generation of one or morecorresponding emoticons.

Per Operation 220, the contents of the third data packet may beprocessed by the third networked component 130-3 to generate one or moretargeted marketing packets. Such targeted marketing packets may beprovided during presentation of the underlying content or later. Suchtargeted marketing packets may be related to the programID or unrelated.The one or more targeted marketing packets may be communicated to one ormore of the first user, the second user and other users.

User Circle Operating Concepts For at least one embodiment, a deviceprocessor module 122 or other component of system 100 may be configuredto include one or more device settings that enable the use of usercircles. For example, a global setting may be enabled that, when theuser device 118 is powered into an “on” operating state, the use of usercircles is automatically enabled. In other embodiments, prompts and/ormessages may be communicated to a user to enable user circles, whendesired.

For at least one embodiment, an underlying program (e.g., a sportsprogram on a cable television feed) may have one or more default usercircles associated therewith. Such one or more default user circles maybe public circles or semi-public circles, where a semi-public circle islimited to certain classes of users based upon one or more userpreferences, user history, or other information. The device processormodule 122 may be configured to automatically identify the one or moredefault user circles when a user of the user device 118 selects thatunderlying program. For extremely popular events, such as the NFL SUPERBOWL™, public circles may be used based on a user's geographic location,with different public circles being available to different users indifferent areas. Various networking considerations may be taken intoconsideration when assigning public circles to various users, such asnetwork latency, network bandwidth, level of activity in a given circle,user preferences, and otherwise. For at least one embodiment, known loadsharing technologies may be used to distribute and manage the use ofpublic user circles. Such load-sharing may occur at one or more hubs 102and/or one or more networked components 130.

Further, it is to be appreciated that such selection of a givenunderlying program or content may occur manually, semi-automatically(such as, by use of one or more timers), automatically (such as, by agiven user device 118 itself selecting a program or content forpresentation to that user at that time), or otherwise. The presentationof the one or more default user circles so identified and associatedwith that underlying program and/or content may likewise be selectableby a user, with such selection itself occurring manually (e.g., by auser selecting the same using a remote, voice command or otherwise),automatically, or otherwise.

When a user circle is selected, the device processor module 122, inconjunction with one or more of the other components of the systemincluding but not limited to the audio input/output module 126 and thevisual input/output module 127, suitably generates one or more humanperceptible outputs that facilitate a given user's participation in auser circle. Such participation may occur by providing audible, visible,text, gesture and/or other signals to such user. For audible perceptibleuser circle signals, the device processor module 122, in conjunctionwith the audio input/output module 126, adjust each of the user circlecomment signals and the audio signals of the underlying content so thatthe user comments can appear as if local, versus virtual, discussion ofthe underlying content was occurring. For at least one embodiment, suchadjustments may include use of surround sound channel processingtechnologies, or otherwise. When multiple users participate in a usercircle, such adjustments may include the presentation, relative to afirst user, of a second user's comments from a different audio directionthan those of a third user's comments. Other audible processingtechnologies may be used for other embodiments.

Various mechanisms may be used to enable a user to switch between two ormore user circles, as relating to a given underlying content, when suchtwo or more user circles are available. These mechanisms include, butare not limited, to audible, visible, text, gesture and/or other inputs,such inputs being provided to a device processor module 122 via one ormore of an audio input/output module 126, visual input/output module127, text input/output module 128, gesture input/output module 129, orotherwise.

As discussed above, one or more user circles may include a supportcircles. Support circles facilitate troubleshooting and resolution ofissues arising with respect to a user device 118, a user circle, aprogram, content, or otherwise. The accessing of support circles mayoccur manually or automatically. For example, when an issue arises withthe presentation of a program, identification of a support circleregarding such issue may be automatically presented to a user of a givenuser device 118 then receiving or trying to receive such program. Uponselection of such support circle, a user circle facilitating theexchange of comments by a user with support personnel may occur. Suchsupport user circle may occur privately, semi-privately (where only oneor more users in a then arising private circle and designated supportstaff can participate), publicly, or otherwise. Support user circles mayalso be provided on-demand, as contrasted with in response to anabnormality in a program or otherwise. For example, upon user request asupport user circle may be presented in which a user canadd/delete/modify subscription packages, obtain use of other services(such as on-line purchasing, on-line bidding, and other on-lineservices), and the like.

For at least one embodiment, the device processor module 122, inconjunction with at least the communications module 120, may beconfigured to facilitate registration of a user with a hub 102 providingaccess to user circle features and functions. Such registration mayinclude the providing of at least a minimal set of information needed toestablish a user's preferences, for populating of a user preferencesdatabase 114-1, and an identification of one or more user circles that anewly registering user may desire to access. Such identification may beprovided by the providing of any desired information, such as types ofprogram and/or content at a level of desired granularity, such assports, leagues, teams, non-violent, and otherwise, identification oneor more “friends” with whom a user may desire to share comments, timesfor use of user circles, and otherwise. It is to be appreciated that theentry of such user information may occur using any desired input device,such as those described below in conjunction with the audio input/outputmodule 126, visual input/output module 127, text input/output module128, gesture input/output module 129, and otherwise.

Although various embodiments of the claimed invention have beendescribed above with a certain degree of particularity, or withreference to one or more individual embodiments, those skilled in theart could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention. The use ofthe terms “approximately” or “substantially” means that a value of anelement has a parameter that is expected to be close to a stated valueor position. However, as is well known in the art, there may be minorvariations that prevent the values from being exactly as stated.Accordingly, anticipated variances, such as 10% differences, arereasonable variances that a person having ordinary skill in the artwould expect and know are acceptable relative to a stated or ideal goalfor one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. It is also to beappreciated that the terms “top” and “bottom”, “left” and “right”, “up”or “down”, “first”, “second”, “next”, “last”, “before”, “after”, andother similar terms are used for description and ease of referencepurposes only and are not intended to be limiting to any orientation orconfiguration of any elements or sequences of operations for the variousembodiments of the present disclosure. Further, the terms “coupled”,“connected” or otherwise are not intended to limit such interactions andcommunication of signals between two or more devices, systems,components or otherwise to direct interactions; indirect couplings andconnections may also occur. Further, the terms “and” and “or” are notintended to be used in a limiting or expansive nature and cover anypossible range of combinations of elements and operations of anembodiment of the present disclosure. Other embodiments are thereforecontemplated. It is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative only of embodiments and not limiting. Changes in detailor structure may be made without departing from the basic elements ofthe invention as defined in the following claims.

Further, a reference to a computer executable instruction includes theuse of computer executable instructions that are configured to perform apredefined set of basic operations in response to receiving acorresponding basic instruction selected from a predefined nativeinstruction set of codes. It is to be appreciated that such basicoperations and basic instructions may be stored in a data storage devicepermanently and/or may be updateable, but, are non-transient as of agiven time of use thereof. The storage device may be any deviceconfigured to store the instructions and is communicatively coupled to aprocessor configured to execute such instructions. The storage deviceand/or processors utilized operate independently, dependently, in anon-distributed or distributed processing manner, in serial, parallel orotherwise and may be located remotely or locally with respect to a givendevice or collection of devices configured to use such instructions toperform one or more operations.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system facilitating a geo-location based usercircle, comprising: a hub: facilitating a sharing of user commentsbetween a first user and a second user via a user circle; wherein thefirst user and the second user are selected for participation in theuser circle based upon a circleID associated with a first user deviceand a second user device; and delimiting sharing of portions of the usercomments in view of a second device geoID associated with the seconduser device; a first user device, communicatively coupled to the hub,facilitating a capture of the user comments provided by the first user;and a second user device, communicatively coupled to the hub,facilitating a presentation of non-delimited user comments to the seconduser; and wherein the second device geoID indicates a location of thesecond user device.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second devicegeoID indicates the location of the second user device is at least oneof a current location, a past location, and a preferred location.
 3. Thesystem of claim 2, wherein the hub communicates, to the second userdevice, a programID identifying content associated with the usercomments.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the hub modifies the usercomments based on the second device geoID.
 5. The system of claim 4,wherein the hub modifies the programID based on the second device geoID.6. The system of claim 1, wherein the hub shares an alternative commentwith the second user device; and wherein the alternative comment isshared in place of one or more delimited user comments.
 7. The system ofclaim 6, wherein, in view of the second device geoID, the alternativecomment is shared with the second user device.
 8. The system of claim 6,wherein the alternative comment is shared with the second user devicewhen at least some of the first user comment exceeds at least oneboundary of the user circle.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the hubshares an alternative content with the second user device; and whereinthe alternative content is shared instead of one or more delimited usercomments.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein, in view of the seconddevice geoID, the alternative content is shared with the second userdevice.
 11. A process, for facilitating a geo-location based usercircle, comprising: associating a first user device with a user circle;associating a second user device with the user circle; receiving acomment from the first user device; receiving a second geoID for thesecond user device; determining, in view of the second geoID and theuser circle, if the comment is acceptable to provide to the second userdevice; and providing, when the comment is acceptable, the comment tothe second user device.
 12. The process of claim 11, further comprising:wherein the first user device and the second user device are selectedfor participation in the user circle based upon a circleID associatedwith the first user device and the second user device.
 13. The processof claim 11, wherein the second geoID indicates a current location ofthe second user device.
 14. The process of claim 11, wherein the firstuser device is associated with a first geoID; wherein the first geoIDassociates, for a given content, a first programID identifying a firstversion of the given content available to the first user device; whereinthe second geoID associates, for the given content, a second programIDidentifying a second version of the given content available to thesecond user device; and wherein the first version of the given contentdiffers from the second version of the given content.
 15. The process ofclaim 14, wherein the first version of the given content is for a firstlocal television feed associated with the first geoID; and wherein thesecond version of the given content is for a second local televisionfeed associated with the second geoID.
 16. The process of claim 11,further comprising: providing, when the comment is not acceptable, analternative comment to the second user device.
 17. The process of claim11, further comprising: determining, in view of the second geoID,whether a given content is acceptable to provide to the second userdevice; providing, when the given content is acceptable, the givencontent to the second user device; identifying, when the given contentis not acceptable, an unacceptable portion of the given content; andsecond providing, when the given content is not acceptable, alternativecontent for the unacceptable portion of the given content.
 18. Theprocess of claim 17, further comprising: wherein the determining ofwhether the given content is acceptable further comprises: receiving atranscription of an audible portions of the given content intotranscribed text; and determining whether the transcription includeswords delimited by at least one of the user circle and the second geoID.19. A computer readable medium including non-transient computerprocessor instructions which, when executed by a hardware processor,facilitate data operations comprising: associating a first user devicewith a user circle; associating a second user device with the usercircle; receiving a comment from the first user device; receiving asecond geoID for the second user device; determining, in view of thesecond geoID and the user circle, if the comment is acceptable toprovide to the second user device; and when the comment is acceptable,providing the comment to the second user device.
 20. The computerreadable medium of claim 19, wherein the data operations furthercomprise: associating with a first geoID for the first user device, withrespect to a given content, a first programID identifying a firstversion of the given content available to the first user device;associating with the second geoID, for the given content, a secondprogramID identifying a second version of the given content available tothe second user device; wherein the first version of the given contentdiffers from the second version of the given content; wherein the firstversion of the given content is for a first local television feedassociated with the first geoID; and wherein the second version of thegiven content is for a second local television feed associated with thesecond geoID; when the comment is not acceptable, providing analternative comment to the second user device; determining, in view ofthe second geoID, whether the given content is acceptable to provide tothe second user device; when the given content is acceptable, providingthe given content to the second user device; and when the given contentis not acceptable, identifying an unacceptable portion of the givencontent; and providing alternative content for the unacceptable portionof the given content.